Duncan Tutoring Bannister

DETROIT — What does Floyd Bannister have to do to pitch at least to the seventh inning, something he has done only one time for the White Sox since May?

``One thing is to change around how he pitches to certain batters,``

pitching coach Dave Duncan said. ``He tries for perfect pitches against guys who start out the inning and, when they walk and get on base, he gets aggressive and is making pitches good to hit.

``That`s backwards. We have told Floyd we want him to be aggressive when he`s starting out an inning and then in the situations with men on base, bear down and pitch the corners when hitters are more anxious.``

Bannister will put this philosophy to the test Thursday night when he starts against Baltimore. Scott McGregor will pitch for the Orioles.

``We want Banny to go more than five or six innings,`` Duncan said.

``It is his job to get us to the seventh inning, at the least.``

-- Manager Tony LaRussa is pondering whether he wants to come back with Tom Seaver to start Sunday against the Orioles` Mike Boddicker. It depends on how Seaver came out of his effort on Wednesday night against Detroit.

Boddicker started Wednesday night, too, and will come back Sunday on just three days rest because he is always tough on the Sox.

For now, Britt Burns is scheduled to start against Boddicker in the last game before the All-Star break.

-- The other match-ups in the Oriole series are Storm Davis vs. Tim Lollar Friday and Dennis Martinez vs. Gene Nelson Saturday.

WFLD-TV (Channel 32) will carry three games from Baltimore--Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

-- Ron Kittle has had tests on his rotator cuff and for nerve damage. Both examinations were negative.

``He`ll rejoin us after the All-Star break,`` trainer Herman Schneider said. ``Hopefully, his shoulder will be fine, and he can resume throwing. But we have to wait to find out.``

-- Why didn`t catcher Carlton Fisk start against the Tigers` Jack Morris Wednesday night? Good time for a rest because Fisk has had two lifetime hits against Morris.

-- Duncan thought reliever Bob James didn`t have his super fastball Tuesday when the Tigers scored four runs in the ninth to win 6-5. ``They got four hits off his fastball in the ninth,`` pointed out Duncan. ``That`s out of character for Bob.

``But there are going to be nights when that happens, when your velocity is not as sharp.``

James hasn`t used his change-up as much as his curve, but Duncan says that the batters will see more of that changeup as the season wears on.